Eric Brighteyes | Page 6

second-
sighted, and she could cover herself in her hair. But these two never
loved each other overmuch, and they had but one child, Eric, who was
born when Saevuna was well on in years.
[*] The Baresarks were men on whom a passing fury of battle came;
they were usually outlawed.
The father of Gudruda was Asmund Asmundson, the Priest of
Middalhof. He was the wisest and the wealthiest of all men who lived
in the south of Iceland in those days, owning many farms and, also, two
ships of merchandise and one long ship of war, and having much
money out at interest. He had won his wealth by viking's work, robbing
the English coasts, and black tales were told of his doings in his youth
on the sea, for he was a "red-hand" viking. Asmund was a handsome
man, with blue eyes and a large beard, and, moreover, was very skilled
in matters of law. He loved money much, and was feared of all. Still, he
had many friends, for as he aged he grew more kindly. He had in
marriage Gudruda, the daughter of Björn, who was very sweet and
kindly of nature, so that they called her Gudruda the Gentle. Of this
marriage there were two children, Björn and Gudruda the Fair; but
Björn grew up like his father in youth, strong and hard, and greedy of
gain, while, except for her wonderful beauty, Gudruda was her mother's
child alone.
The mother of Swanhild the Fatherless was Groa the Witch. She was a
Finn, and it is told of her that the ship on which she sailed, trying to run
under the lee of the Westman Isles in a great gale from the north-east,
was dashed to pieces on a rock, and all those on board of her were
caught in the net of Ran[*] and drowned, except Groa herself, who was
saved by her magic art. This at the least is true, that, as Asmund the
Priest rode down by the sea-shore on the morning after the gale,
seeking for some strayed horses, he found a beautiful woman, who
wore a purple cloak and a great girdle of gold, seated on a rock,
combing her black hair and singing the while; and, at her feet, washing

to and fro in a pool, was a dead man. He asked whence she came, and
she answered:
"Out of the Swan's Bath."
[*] The Norse goddess of the sea.
Next, he asked her where were her kin. But, pointing to the dead man,
she said that this alone was left of them.
"Who was the man, then?" said Asmund the Priest.
She laughed again and sang this song:--
Groa sails up from the Swan's Bath, Death Gods grip the Dead Man's
hand. Look where lies her luckless husband, Bolder sea-king ne'er
swung sword! Asmund, keep the kirtle-wearer, For last night the Norns
were crying, And Groa thought they told of thee: Yea, told of thee and
babes unborn.
"How knowest thou my name?" asked Asmund.
"The sea-mews cried it as the ship sank, thine and others--and they
shall be heard in story."
"Then that is the best of luck," quoth Asmund; "but I think that thou art
fey."[*]
[*] I.e. subject to supernatural presentiments, generally connected with
approaching doom.
"Ay," she answered, "fey and fair."
"True enough thou art fair. What shall we do with this dead man?"
"Leave him in the arms of Ran. So may all husbands lie."
They spoke no more with her at that time, seeing that she was a
witchwoman. But Asmund took her up to Middalhof, and gave her a

farm, and she lived there alone, and he profited much by her wisdom.

Now it chanced that Gudruda the Gentle was with child, and when her
time came she gave a daughter birth--a very fair girl, with dark eyes.
On the same day, Groa the witchwoman brought forth a girl-child, and
men wondered who was its father, for Groa was no man's wife. It was
women's talk that Asmund the Priest was the father of this child also;
but when he heard it he was angry, and said that no witchwoman
should bear a bairn of his, howsoever fair she was. Nevertheless, it was
still said that the child was his, and it is certain that he loved it as a man
loves his own; but of all things, this is the hardest to know. When Groa
was questioned she laughed darkly, as was her fashion, and said that
she knew nothing of it, never having seen the face of the child's father,
who rose out of the sea at night. And for this cause some thought him
to have been a wizard or the wraith of her dead husband; but others